Pirate runners’ late moves overtake foes

The strategy was clear for the Port Washington High School boys’ cross country team at the Division 2 state meet in Wisconsin Rapids on Saturday.

Start slow. Conserve energy. Move up later.

The Pirates executed, picking off runners in bunches later in the 5,000-meter race.

Freshman Andrew Karrels finished 58th (29th among runners in the team competition) in 17 minutes, 15.1 seconds.

“He did a great job of moving up throughout the race. He started in 56th place at the mile, then 40th place at the two-mile,” coach Mark Pasten said.

“The strategy that our coach has been telling us all week was to not go out too fast despite the temptation, and to move up accordingly throughout the race. It went excellent for me as I moved up 33 places throughout the last two miles,” Karrels said.

Sophomore Beckett Shuster was 60th (31st) in 17:19.3.

“Beckett moved up 20 places during the second mile, and then hung on during the third mile,” Pasten said.

“We went out smart and passed many people, but the competition was stiff,” Shuster said. “I wanted to run with Andrew and pass people who went out too hard but someone tripped me down a hill but I recovered and finished a bit behind Andrew.”

Shuster also competes in mountain biking during fall. He joined cross country partly because of Pasten and assistant coach Blain Masterson.

“They’re the best coaches I could ask for. I couldn’t even run without them,” he said.

Senior Connor Zinuticz, the only one with state meet experience from Port’s seventh-place finish in 2024, was 93rd (57th) in 17:44.9 in his final race.

“The race itself is always tough, from the actual course to the teams there. But still being able to go there as a team this year was the goal and I think next year we’ll have another good chance to get to state,” he said.

“It feels weird that the season’s over as well as my senior season for cross country, but I still have track to practice and be ready for.”

Junior Dylan Helmeid was 128th (91st) in 18:35.9. Sophomore Keagan Normile was 92nd in 18:36.8.

“Dylan Helmeid and Keagan Normile did a nice job of working together through the entire race,” Pasten said.

Senior Noah Leinss was 132nd (95th) in 18:39.5. Sophomore Will Dahmen was 141st (103rd) in 19:02.1.

“Noah ran a really smart race to end up in 95th. He had our fourth-fastest third mile on the team and passed eight runners,” Pasten said.

Port was the only team at state that was never ranked in the state coaches’ association poll all season, and the top five runners scored 300 points, taking 15th of 16 teams.

“The team finished about where they were expected to,” Pasten said.

“The goal for this team was to make it to state. This was accomplished with hard work and they should be very proud of what they achieved. This is a young team up front and should be a little stronger next year as our top two continue to grow.”